Selma Kampe Blackmon encourages genealogical research by offering assistance to family historians. My family research includes the surnames: Armstrong, Baumgarten, Couch, Dralle, Dunham, Elsner, Kampe, Koppleman and Schuler. The surname locations by states include Connecticut, Illinois, New York, Ohio and Wisconsin.

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24 July 2012

Have you noticed the “suggested records” on the right side
of the screen on Ancestry.com? Do you know how to use them? These suggestions can
lead to new and fascinating discoveries or lead down the blind rabbit
hole. My example is the Schuler family
of Lockport, Will County, Illinois. While researching for Genealogy: How to research family relationships from census records,part 4, the 1860 U.S. population schedule census index lists an Eliza Shuler and Elizabeth Shuler. As a family
historian, I want to place Eliza and Elizabeth in their correct family.

Next to the 1860 census index page for Eliza Shuler, the
“suggested records” refer to the John Shuler family of Lockport, Illinois in
1850. Another suggestion refers to Elizabeth in the John Shuler family of
Ottawa, Illinois in 1850. Can the family historian assume the suggestions are
correct? Always search for more verification and documentation. These
suggestions may be correct; these suggestions may be mixed up, these
suggestions may be completely wrong.

Matching the 1860 and 1850 census indexes, reveals that the
1860 Eliza is the 1850 Elizabeth. Others in the same home in both censuses
include John, Charles, and Mary. Family records identify Eufen in 1850 as Ann
in 1860. The Schuler family has resided in Lockport, Illinois since 1840.

Who is Eliza Shuler, 17, servant to Stephen Douse? Could
Elizabeth enumerated in the John Shuler home and Eliza the servant enumerated
with Stephen Douse be the same person? Is
she working? What became of her after 1860? More research is needed to answer
these questions.

21 July 2012

In the 1860 U.S. population schedule census, Stephen Shuler
is enumerated with Ann Shuler. Who is Stephen Shuler? The census is for
Lockport, Will County, Illinois. Stephen would have been born about 1859. During
past interviews with family members, no one remembers an infant named Stephen.

The 1850, 1860, and 1870 U.S. censuses are relationship
clues only. They do NOT state the relationship to the head of the house as
found in future censuses. From the census page it is impossible to state that
the seven names below Ann Shuler are her children. Other documents offer
relationship information that John, Elizabeth, Charles, Mary, Caroline, and
Agnes are her descendents. But, who is Stephen?

Several possibilities:

·Stephen died as an infant. Infant graves have
been found, but none are unaccounted.

·In 1870, Stephen Kirchner lived in Chicago, Cook
County, Illinois. The Kirchner surname pops up while researching collateral
kin. Could this be a relative visiting the home?

·Eunice Gooding, 43, was enumerated next to Ann
Shuler, 41, they be neighbors and friends? The Schuler property on Madison
Street, Lockport, was originally owned by Gooding. This researcher has linked a
Stephen Gooding to the Lockport family. Could this be the neighbor child
playing next door at the Shuler home?

·Remember, Ann’s native language is German. She
may not have understood the enumerator’s question.

The answer to this question is very elusive. But as a
researcher, I must NOT jump to conclusions and say that Stephen is the son of
Ann. For further census research suggestions, read How to research family relationships from census records, part 4.
The four articles on Examiner.com demonstrate how to construct families using
digital census records. My Schuler family is the example.